Franklin Matters

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Social Security and AARP Work to Slam the Scam

"AARP is helping SSA and its Office of the Inspector General warn you about scammers using Social Security in coronavirus (COVID-19) scams. AARP has a new webinar available for free (registration required), advising the public that scammers’ tactics continue to evolve, and they are now using coronavirus to try to scare us. Don’t be fooled!

Scammers may contact you by phone, letter, text, or email impersonating government officials to trick you into providing money or personal information. They may tell you Social Security is going to stop your benefits because its offices are closed, or ask you to pay a fee to receive extra benefits due to the pandemic. Scammers may even pose as COVID-19 contact tracers working to stop the spread of the virus and ask for payment or your Social Security Number. Don’t be fooled!"

Continue reading the article online
https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-and-aarp-work-to-slam-the-scam/

Social Security and AARP Work to Slam the Scam

NPR: "Amid Confusion About Reopening, An Expert Explains How To Assess COVID-19 Risk"

Via NPR, we find this article share worthy:

"Across the country, states are loosening the restrictions that had been put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 — with varying results. New cases are decreasing in some states, including New York, Michigan and Colorado, while case numbers and hospitalizations have swelled recently in several states, including Texas, Arizona and Florida.

"Since the very first day of this pandemic, I don't think [we've been] in a more confused position about what's happening," epidemiologist Michael Osterholm says. "We just aren't quite sure what [the coronavirus is] going to do next."

Osterholm is the founder and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. His 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, was recently republished with a new foreword about COVID-19. Mark Olshaker is the book's co-author.

From the earliest days of the pandemic, the coronavirus has often been treated as a political issue rather than a public health issue — and much has been made of President Trump's refusal to wear a mask in public. But Osterholm says that the risks from COVID-19 supersede partisanship."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk

This hit the Franklin radar via Twitter:https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1274871454111334400?s=09

A server wears a protective face mask while attending to customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Bethesda, Md., on June 12. Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

School Committee: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - June 24

Policy Sub Committee Meeting

Virtual Meeting

June 24, 2020 - 6:00 PM

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may, in fact, be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

I.Electronic Distribution of Approved Policies

1.EBAB - (New) Pest Management
2.EBC - Emergency Plans
3.Policy Distribution Folder

II.Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

1.None

III.Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

1.ECAF - Security Cameras in Schools (NEW)
2.Continued Review of Policies

Conference bridge info contain in agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/6-24-20_policy_posting_agenda.pdf

In the News: "New design floated for Allston highway/transit megaproject"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"In the wake of widespread pushback against earlier proposals, state transportation officials floated a new design Monday for a landmark Allston infrastructure project that they will consider alongside two other options as a key deadline approaches.

The more than $1 billion Allston Multimodal Project may represent the most significant highway work in Massachusetts in a generation, but planning for up to a decade of construction, accomplishing goals for four different modes of travel, and minimizing impacts on the hundreds of thousands of daily commuters that pass through the narrow stretch of land connecting Boston to the west has been fraught with difficult choices.

Deliberations have been underway for years about how best to balance the project’s goals of replacing the structurally deficient viaduct carrying the Turnpike, straightening a curved section of the road, allowing for construction of a commuter rail West Station and freeing space for pedestrians and neighborhoods.

Because the 12 lanes of crowded roadway, commuter rail tracks and walking paths are crammed into only 204 feet of space between Boston University and the river, construction will impose major disruptions on some if not all of the modes of travel through the area."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200622/new-design-floated-for-allston-highwaytransit-megaproject

Mass DOT materials for the Allston Multimodal Project
https://www.mass.gov/lists/allston-multimodal-project-2020-meeting-materials

Fact sheet for June 22 meeting
https://www.mass.gov/doc/allston-multimodal-project-fact-sheet/download

In the News: "New design floated for Allston highway/transit megaproject"

Reader's Digest: "13 Things You Shouldn’t Do at Reopened Restaurants"

In the Reader's Digest listing of things you shouldn't do at a restaurant during this pandemic, our Franklin Board of Health Chair, Bridget Sweet is quoted:

Ignore individual restaurant guidelines

While most restaurants will follow the same guidelines, specific restaurants may have certain parameters in place that you, as a guest, should respect and follow. "Upon your arrival, if the restaurant wants to take your temperature or requires you to use hand sanitizer upon entry, allow this to happen," Bridget Sweet, Executive Director of Food Safety, College of Food Innovation & Technology, Johnson & Wales University, tells Reader's Digest. "Restaurants are trying to protect you as well as their staff. If the establishment requests that you wait in your vehicle until your table is ready, do so." Here are 9 etiquette rules you still have to follow during the novel coronavirus pandemic (https://www.rd.com/culture/etiquette-rules-follow-coronavirus/).

Continue to read the full Reader Digest article
https://www.rd.com/food/things-you-shouldnt-do-at-reopened-restaurants/

Shared from the Town of Franklin Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1275066058617966599?s=09

Monday, June 22, 2020

Town Council Last Week: A Momentary Return to a Public Presence

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 06/21/2020

"Last Week when I laid out the plan to meet in the gym? Didn’t happen. That’s okay. Many of you expressed deep concern about holding an indoor meeting in a large venue, even with carefully planned social distancing. That careful planning and responsiveness to the concerns of all – by all – is why Franklin has maintained the second lowest infection rate statewide.

So, on Monday – new plan. This is what very large-scale social distancing looks like. We moved out to the football field. The weather gods cooperated, and we were able to accommodate all who wished to attend on site. The stats indicate that well over a thousand residents were listening to the important proceedings on both nights through 102.9 wfpr.fm, Franklin Public Radio.

As we all navigate our temporary new normal, we will continue to refine our plans for citizen access, participation – and above all, safety"

And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. And, thank you for watching.

The full schedule can be found in the TV guide for this week
http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

Or for historical record
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KMG9O5MPDqDtTs5Mc6-i20g-MRm-PWpK/view?usp=sharing

Town Council Last Week: A Momentary Return to a Public Presence (photo by Pete Fasciano)

School Committee scheduled to approve budget cuts for FY 2021

In the meeting packet for the June 23, 2020 Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting, they are scheduled to approve $3.4M worth of cuts covering 19.5 personnel (full time equivalent = FTE).

"The School Committee adopted a budget of $68,767,873 on April 28, 2020, which represents a6.03% increase over FY 20. The Town Council approved an appropriation of $65,658,500.$300,000 of this appropriation is from Community Host Agreement revenue and is to be earmarked towards substance abuse prevention. The increase to the operational budget is$500,000; this leaves a shortfall of $3,409,373 that we have been working to reduce over the past several weeks.

Your packet contains an updated spreadsheet of reluctantly submitted recommendations of areas to reduce in order to meet the Town appropriation, which are based on the Governor’s Budget of January. We have used input from the School Committee and feedback from the community in developing this iteration.

I recommend that the School Committee vote to adopt a budget of $65,658,500

-----------------------------

Uncertainty continues in the budget development process and we expect to have to further reduce the budget when state aid figures are better known. An estimate many districts are using is a 10% cut to state aid.

We do anticipate further cuts to state aid and a need to examine additional items for reduction.We have listed areas for discussion and exploration at the bottom of the spreadsheet. Specific areas are highlighted due to anticipated DESE guidance about opening school in the fall and health risks/impacts. This guidance will be helpful in shaping our review of these areas.

These are not all inclusive and we will work to be as creative as possible should additional reductions be required."